President Donald Trump signed an executive order June 22 suspending new H-1B and H-4 visas until the end of the year, barring workers from seeking employment in the U.S.
H-1B visas are permits that allow U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers. Each year, 85,000 H-1B visas are available through sponsorship or a lottery process.
“The biggest obstacle I will face is finding an employer who will sponsor my work visa,” said Rahul Nagda, DDS, a 2020 graduate of the University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry. “There is a lack of knowledge about H-1B visas among private practitioners and most are not willing to sponsor a work visa.”
Dr. Nagda came to the U.S. almost three years ago from India. He received his degree in dental surgery, but still must obtain a legal permit to practice in the U.S. The dentist is considering moving to Canada, where he said the immigration policies are more beneficial.
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